Do not skip Breakfast! A good breakfast can kick-start your day and help keep you moving all day long. A good breakfast improves attention, increases alertness and memory and kids do better in school. It even improves your mood all day long. No time to make breakfast and get everyone out the door? Harvest Home has some tricks to help you reduce the rush: Make deliciously healthy muffins (see below) you can grab on the way out the door or make oatmeal the night before.  

Make oatmeal overnight.

For each individual portion mix in a glass jar

• ½cup old fashioned rolled oats 

• ½ cup milk of choice

• ¼ cup non-fat Greek yogurt

• 1 tablespoon sweetener like honey or maple syrup

• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and put in the frig overnight. NOTE: Overnight oats can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make on Sunday night for the week. In the morning, add something extra tempting:  fresh or frozen fruit, nuts, coconut, or even mini chocolate chips. 

Tricks for Making Deliciously Healthy Muffins

• Zucchini and Squash add moisture plus vitamin B6 and minerals that can help regulate blood glucose.

• Carrots add sweetness plus vitamin A for your eyes.

• Mix white whole wheat with regular flour: Substitute 1 cup of white whole wheat flour for 1 cup of regular flour.

• White whole wheat flour has a lighter texture, but the same nutrition as whole wheat flour.

• Adds protein, fiber and B vitamins that help your body turn food into energy.

Next time your kids (or you) race out the door saying, “I don’t have time for breakfast.”  hand them a muffin to go! Just tell them you made them and that they are delicious.

Go Bananas !

RECIPE: Banana Carrot Oatmeal Muffin 

Moist, flavorful and healthy.

• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas

• 1 cup grated carrots

• ¼  cup olive oil

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/3  cup honey or maple syrup

• ¼  cup milk of choice

• 1 ¼  cups whole wheat flour, white whole wheat or white floor 

• ½  cup rolled oats

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ½  teaspoon baking soda

• ¼  teaspoon salt

• 1 ½  teaspoon ground cinnamon

TO MAKE:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 12 muffin cups with nonstick spray.

• In a large bowl mix flour, oatmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together. In a separate bowl combine mashed banana, oil, eggs, vanilla, honey and milk. Add the flour mixture into the wet mixture and stir to just combine. Gently fold in any other add-ins.

• Fill each muffin cup 3/4 full. Bake for 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of muffins comes out clean.

• Store in zip-lock bag. They will last 4 to 5 days in the fridge or freeze them.

tips and tricks: Fasion ROLLED OATS

Overnight Oatmeal add-ins:

• Add frozen fruit like blueberries when you make the oatmeal.  They defrost overnight.

• Top with nuts like almonds, cashews or pecans, coarsely chopped

• Try coconut milk or almond milk

• Adding a tablespoon of almond or peanut butter makes the oatmeal creamier and smoother

• Adding 1 ripe banana, 1 tablespoon of almond butter and 3 drops of almond extract gets you a smooth, creamy almond treat

Add your own applesauce: Peel and slice several apples into a pan.  Add about a ½ inch of water.  Cook for 10-15 minutes depending on how hard the Apples are. Stir occasionally and add a little more water if necessary to avoid sticking.  Flavor with cinnamon and sugar. Use as a spread on your muffin.

One more “out the door fast” breakfast idea: Add oatmeal to your favorite smoothie recipe. Put the oats in a blender first and blend till they are almost a powder.  Then add the rest of the smoothie ingredients. It’s a creamer, thicker smoothie with extra nutrition.

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Video of the Week

Why is a Healthy Breakfast the Most Important Meal of the Day?